Davenport construction



Feb. 13,. '.1923'.. E 1,445,209.

W. 'F. FREEMAN ET AL.

DAVENPORT CONSTRUCTION. v

FILED LAN. 30. i922. f1 4SHEETS-SHEET l.

Wa/wey Feb. 13, 1928. 1,445,209.

w. F. FREEMAN ET AL.

DAVENPORT CONSTRUCTION.

FILED 1AN.30. 1922. 4 sHEETs-sHEET 2.

Feb. 13, 1923. v 1,445,209.

` W. E. FREEMAN ET AL.

DAVENPORT CONSTRUCTION.

FILED 1AN. 30, 1922. 4 SHEETSAHEET s.

Feb. 13, 1923.

W. F. FREEMAN ET AL.

DAVENPORT CONSTRUCTION.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FILED JA.N.30. 1922.

eh. lli, i923,

Winn/nw n. raum/raw, on IirmfrrnooIn, .eine srnnnnir e. SMITH, or nnrnorr,

' lirici-risen.

DAVENPGRT CONSTRUCTION.

Application nled January 30, 1922. Serial No. 532,586.

To all HJ/"rom v' 1'; may concern e itrknown that we, Timun l?. Finn-:-

MAN and L'rinsnny G. S'rrii, citizens of the luten ,tutes of .fin Y, an, residing at Elmbrook, Kyo-ming rllownship and the city of Aictroit in the counties of lient and 'Vl/'ayne 1, `l I te of illichigan, have invented cerd useful improvements in Daw s ruction; and we do hereby d^ ovring to be ar full, clear, and

' 2b in the structure shown in lUnited States Letters Patent, No. 1,260,988, issued March 26, 1918, to make the same more simple and practically operative. In the structure shown in said prior patent, the `operation from folded to unfolded position was effected by a crank and necessitated drawing the device out from the wall of the room where it was located, this being objectionable for many reasons. lVith the present '30 invention, the same broad principle of operation and basic structure is retained but the operation is much more simple and effective no additional operating mechanism beingl needed, as the free edge of the upper 3.3 movable section of the device may be grasped and the same turned from open to closed position and vice versa by exerting the required force to accomplish the movements. fin-ther object of the invention is to so construct the davenport that any position to which the movable parte may be moved is retained, it being possible to leave the dawnport either wholly or partlyv open with assurance that it will stay in any position to which moved, this being advantageous in many cases in airing bedding and the like. Further objects of the invention are to simplify the structure as much as possible and reduce thecost. of manufacture to a minimum, at the same time making the operation very easy through a counterbalancing spring which counteracts the force of'gravity in the raising and-lowering of the parts. All of these features, together with many others not at this time specifically set forth, will appear fully and in detail as understanding of the invention is had Afrom the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

l'fig. l is an end elevation and sectional view of the davenport in folded-position, one end -iframe member thereof being removed to show the operating structure.`

Fig. 2 is a like view, showing the davenport in unfolded position.I Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan and horizontal sectional view of one end of the davenport in unfolded position.

rig. e 1s an enlarged fragmentary elevation, parftly'in section illustrating the parts in partly unfolded position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the davenportvin folded position, showing the spring construction used.

Fig. 6 is a similar View with the daven-` port unfolded. f

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal Vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 7 7, of Fig. G, lookingl in the direction indicated by the arrow.r f

Fig. 8 is a side elevation with parts'broken away, showing the adaptation of the invention to railway seats, as in Pullman cars.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged rear elevation ofthe latching means'used to releasably hold the davenport members-together in folded position, and i i Fig. l0 is aside elevation thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts .in the different figures of the'drawings. i

The ends of the davenport include spaced apart outer and inner vertical boards l' and 2 which at their frontA edges are connectedv together and covered by vertical uprights 3. The ends are spaced apart the desired distance and vconnected together by bottom horizontal cross railsA l and `a lower vertical front railv 5, as shown. A horizontal cross rail 6 extendslbetween the ends atV the rear and a distance above the rear bottom rail el., above which the back 7 to thedavenport is positioned, the same being of any suitable` construction. f An upper finishing arm 8 covers the upper edges of the boards l and and'extends betweenthem. This maires-the frame upon which the folding structurels mounted, the endsbeing hollow tor the housing ot the immediate mounting means there'llor.

On the rear side of each upright 3 an angle bar 9 is secured vertically lrornthe rearwardly projecting leg ot which a plu-- rality ot spaced apart pins l0 extend. i channel ll is spaced a short distance from the bar 9, paralleling the same and being rigidly connected therewith by bars l2. si short. stud shaft i3 is located at the inner end oi each of the side bars lll, which to- `ejether with a connecting` cross bar l5 make up the trame for the upper davenport sec tion and within `which spring; structure 16, similar .in most respects to that shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,363,533, issued Dec. 28, 1920, is secured. ln practice, two plates 17 and i8 are permanently secured, one on the .inner and the other' on the outer side of the inner end ol." each ar 14, and the sha'lt 13 is permanently secured thereto projecting therefrom and passing through a vertical slot 20 in the adjacent inner side 2 ot the davenport end, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft at each end @t the davenport passes between the bar 9 and channel ll and is equipped with a roller 2l at its end which bears against the inner flange oit the channel ll. A disk 22 formed or a part of its circumference with a segmental gear 23 isiixed to each shaft 13 and the gear teeth are designed to engage with the pins l0 oit the adjacent angle bar` 9.

rllllieunder davenport member comprises `a frame made up of two spaced apart side pieces 24 connected at their rear ends by across piece 25. Within this trame a spring construction 26 is mounted, bein?,` of the usual coiled spring,r type. A plate 2Zis permanently secured at the front end and on the outer side of each frame side piece 2stl and each has a bracket 28 permanently secured thereto on which a roller 29 is mounted so as to run on ther outer flange oi' the channel ll. Rollers 29 are located below rollers 2l and the inner board 2'of each end ot the davenport is vertically slotted 'tor the passage ot the brackets 23 as is obviously necessary to allow ttor vertical. movements 'et' the brackets.

A' bell crank lever is loosely mounted on each stud shaft 13 closely adjacent the plate 27 which is also loosely mounted on the shaft as shown in Fig. 3. The bell-crank .lying alongside the sides 2Liof the under davenport member, the rear ends .oro the springs .33 being secured to brackets 34 permanently secured to said sides 24. A pin 35 projects, 'from each plate 1S and in the rearward turningv movement oit the upper dav'enport member strikes arm actingr on the pins l() serve to simultane" onsly elevate sha'lfts 13 and attached parts,

whereby the rear under da'venport member rises vertically as the upper member turned toiward, This movement assisted by springs 33, the same being;l stretched and acting` through the bell-crank levers on pins 35 to help the rotation and consequent elevation of the parts. This continues until the upper member has reached substantially" vertical position, after which such assistance is not desirable or necessary. lllhen the davenport is lully uniolded, supporting,` legs tor the outer portion of the vupper member drop to position, as shown in llig. 2. To

mount these legs brackets 36 are secured one i to each side lll oit' the upper davenport member, each bracket including two outwardly proieetmg,` stops 37, between which the legs 33 are pivotally mounted, limiting the swing of the legs to substantially ninety degrees rso that the same automatically assume a horizontal position when the davenport is folded, and a vertical position for support when it is unfolded.

The spring construction lor the upper davenport member includes a consecutive series o angle bars 39 pivotally connected together at-their ends and so constructed that the same may bend downward when the davenport is in folded position but will be rigid against downward movement when the upper davenport member is reversed in position as when it is unfolded, this being fully disclosed in the tormer Patent No. '1,363,5i-itl. to which reference has been made. line end oll the bar structure is loosely mounted in open bracke 1l-0 on the cross piece l5. itt the opposite end all ot the tlexible bar constructions 39 are secured to a rod Lll which at its ends is connected by chains l2 to eye members .t3 secured to the inner plates 17, as `rshown in Fig. 7. The central portion of the rod il has a sleeve connected therewith from which wires or cables e5 extend toward members 43. beine' connected thereto by coiled springs 46.

llt mattress 26"L lies above the coiled spring structure 26 and similar mattress 16L lies under the spring), structure 1.6 when the davenport is folded, lyingi above the same when the navenport is unfolded. A coveriup; piece ot fabric, leather, or the like is attached at one edge to the upper ld'avenpo-rt member above the spring structure and extends therefrom to under the front portion of the low r davenport member, as indicated at il?. n cushion 48 may be secured above the upper davenport member when it is in folded position, the same being removed when the davenport is unfolded.

YWith this construction, the. coiled springs in the spring' structure i6 serve as spring Vcushions for the davenport in folded posi-A tion and also as a spring support for the mattress 16a when the davenport is unfolded, the spring 26 similar-ly supporting the mattress 26a. This permits the use of coiled springs in a davenport for use both when it used as a sofa or couch and when it is used :is a bed.

' lt will be noted that the positions of the rollersI 2l. and 2S) is such that the weight of the under davenport member 2l with or without any additional weight thereon serves to practically hold and secure the said under member in any position to which it is moved, there being a binding action of the rollers against the opposite flanges of the channel ll. This permits the daifenport being left partly open and insures that it will stay in any such position to w iich moved, an advantage in airing bedding used without necessitating fully opening` the davenport. lt also obviates adding' any auxiliary support-ing means for the under member when it is elevated to lie in alinement with the upper member with the unfolding of the davenport.

The construction described is particularly adapted for use with car seats, as shown in Fig. 8, which are to be used at night for sleeping' berths. The construction may be applied to each of two seats 49 facing' each other and very quickly and easily opened outward so that the two upper members of the darenport construction come together,

making a continuous horizontal mattress support at the upper side, as shown. One of the pieces l may carry detachable counectinn' and securing' means 5() of any desired construction to tie the adjacent upper members together when unfolded. l

ln Figs. i, 2, 9 and l0, l have shown a releasable latch for holding' the two davenport members together when in folded position. spring' latch member 5l is secured to the rear side of of the lower member and is adapted to spring over the end 5f of a bar 52 secured to the rear side (in folded position) of the upper ,memben automatically latching the members together when they are folded together. A push rod 53 is slidably mounted on and through ears 52b and 52c projecting' from bar 52, the rod being normally elevated by spring 5ft, but easily pushed down 'by engaging' with the upper head on the rod, the lower end thereupon engaging the latch member 5l and moving' it to release the upper davenport member. as is obvious.

The davgenport construction described is practical, easily operated, relatively simple and economical to manufacture, and partieg ularly serviceable `in all respects. The appended claims define the invention and we consider ourselves entitled to all forms ofconstruction coming within their scope.

llVe claim: l. A.' davenport comprising` two spaced apart ends, a channel and an angle bar.

located at the front part of each end in vertical spaced apart relation, said angle bar carrying a plurality of pins in spaced apart vertical relation, two short shafts ex, tending` between said channel and angle bars, one at each end of the davenport, a gear member fixed to each shaft andtengaging with said pins, a roller on the outer end of each shaft bearing against the forward flange of the channel member, a lower davenport member connected with and loosely mounted on and between said shafts at the upper front corners thereof, an upper davenport fixed to and located between said shaftsat the upper rear corners thereof, and a roller mounted on the lower davenport member at each end thereof and at the lower front portions to bear against the rear flange of the channels, substantially as described.

2. A davenport comprising two spaced apart ends, a rack bar secured vertically at the front portion of each end, a second bar vertically` positioned a short distance back of the rack bar, a short horizontal shaft extending between said bars at each end of the davenport, a gear member fixed to each shaft and engaging with the adjacent rack bar, a roller on the outer end of each shaft bearing against the front side of the adjacent second bar, a lower davenport member loosely mounted on and located between said shafts, being connected thereto at the upper. front corners thereof, an upper davenport member fixed to and located between said shafts, having connection thereto at the upper rear corners thereof, and a roller mounted on each end of the lower davenport member at the lower front portions thereof and bearing against the rear side of the adjacent second bar, substantially as described.

3. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 2, combined with a ybell-crank lever loosely mounted on each shaft adjacent the gear member fixed thereon, said lever comprising twol arms located substantially at right angles to each other, one of said arms normally extending backward alongside of the end of the lower davenport member, a coiled spring attached at one end to the end of said devenport member and connected at its other end to saidarm, the other of said arms normally extending vertically, and a pin proiectmg Yfrom each end of the upper davenport member so as to engage said other arm when the upper member is oldedover the lower mem- 'ber ot' the davenport.

a. A davenport comprising upper and lower davenport members located between vthe ends of the davenport frame, a rack mounted vertically adjacent the liront of each end oit the frame, a gear in mesh with each raclr, means for connecting the gears to ythe ends of the upper davenport member on the ends of the frame for holding the davenport members in any position to which operated, substantially as described.`

` 5. A davenport including` a trame havingspaced apart ends, upper and lower daven- `port members mounted thereon and located between said ends of the frame, means for operatively connecting the said members and mounting` the same on the endsr of the frame whereby on turning the upper member forward and outward to horizontal position the lower member is automatically elevated into the same plane therewith, a bar fixed vertically on each end oi the frame, and two rollers connected to the lower trame member ateach end to bear against opposite sides of the bar, the rollers at the front sides of the ,bars being` located at points higher than those bearing against the rear sides of said bars, substantially as described.

WILLLXM F. FREEMAN. STANLEY G. kdb/HTH, 

